As I stated a couple of weeks ago, one of my favorite bands besides Korn to come out of the rubble of the Nu-Metal scene is the band Sevendust. The band has soldiered through label changes, lifestyle changes, and has persevered for 24 years as a band which is a huge accomplishment these days. That is why I have decided to cover the band’s third album Animosity for this week’s Album of the Week. The album which featured Lajon Witherspoon (Lead Vocals), Clint Lowery (Lead Guitar), John Connolly (Rhythm Guitar), Vinnie Hornsby (Bass), and Morgan Rose (Drums) was released on November 13, 2001 via TVT Records. The album peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Top 200 charts where it had been for 13 straight weeks. It was certified Gold four months later which was helped by the fact that four singles out of the five all charted. It was also the number one Top Independent album on the charts as well as producing two top 15 mainstream rock charts singles. One cool thing about the album is that the band released five different versions of the album over a two year period and each varied in what it contained. The band had already proven that there was no sophomore slump with Home and they were about to prove that they were here to stay with Animosity.

1. T.O.A.B.– The first track on the album and if you were wondering it stands for Tits on A Boar. The track starts fading in with some machine like sounds before it launches into a sledgehammer of a track that talks about that person you know that you don’t like because they are just bad in general. 4/5

2. Praise-One of the singles off the album that grooves with the best of them in a track that could be a track that is talking from Christs perspective about how people may hate him, but they praise him when they need him. Even though the hate is strong though, he still will never deny them. 5/5

3. Trust– The song starts off with a melodic intro before it launches into overdrive. The song I think is about how he had someone, but they went away because he broke their trust. 5/5

4. Crucified– an interesting track that I think is about how he may have stood up for someone and he was vilified for it while they just went on with life. 4.5/5

5. XMas Day-a very cool acoustic track that was written by Clint about his mother and the relationship they had. 5/5

6. Dead Set-A very underrated track that Lajon sounds like gold on this headbanger that is all about struggling with your inner demons. 4.5/5

7. Shine-a cool track that I think Lajon is talking about how he just doesn’t feel like himself in a relationship even though he would love to see it shine. 4/5

8. Follow– This is a track on the album that features Aaron Lewis of Staind doing some vocals as well. It’s a very melodic track, but I have to say that I love Morgan’s playing on this track. 4/5

9. Damaged– This is a very deep track lyrically in this bass driven track that I think is talking about someone who is so damaged that they are suicidal. 4/5

10. Live Again-This was the album’s second single released that I think lyrically is talking about someone who has such a bad sense of self that Lajon is trying to urge them to live again and forget the BS. 4.5/5

11. Beautiful-a track that has those monster bass riffs to go along with the hard driving guitars in a track that Lajon is talking about life on the road becoming so dull that they need something refreshing to look at. 4/5

12. Redefine– a very cool track that Lajon is talking about something that keeps holding him back, but he wants to be free so that he can accomplish the things he wants to do. 4/5

13. Angel’s Son– Probably one of the best tracks that was originally released on the Strait Up CD that was done as a tribute to former Snot singer Lynn Strait. 5/5

My Final Thoughts– This album at the time was further proof that these guys were far from done and as history will state they are about to release their 12TH album this year. So many awesome tracks on the album that my favorites are Angel’s Son, Praise, Trust, and XMas Day. It’s hard to pick a least favorite track on an album that is this good, but if I had to it would be Beautiful. Check out this album, I am going to give it 4.5 stars out of five for a final grade.

You are probably wondering just who in the world is Scour and why do I have them as the single of the week this week. Scour is a new supergroup of sorts from troubled former Pantera/current Down singer Phil Anselmo. The band also features John Jarvis (Pig Destroyer) on Bass, Chase Fraser (Animosity, Continuum) on Guitar, Derek Engemann (Cattle Decapitation) on Guitar and Jesse Schobel (Strong Intention) on Drums. The best way to describe the band can only be answered by one man and that is Phil himself, “The Scour thing was something that just popped up, and it’s something that I think I can kill, something I can lay it out. They’re short songs. It’s a short EP, and that’s something I can knock out… I think (there’s) one of the fellows from Cattle Decapitation, but it’s predominantly, in my ear, modern-ish black metal-sounding, thrashy black metal type stuff. I’m going to put my own spin on it. I don’t have to sound like your boy from Gorgoroth [laughing] to get the point across, man. There’s other ways of singing over that style of music, and I shall employ many styles.” That is essentially why I chose it for the single of the week. Check it out below: